Die mechanism for mounting bushings



Feb 4, 936- F. w. SAMPLE ET AL 2,029,341

DIE MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING BUSHINGS Filed May 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3?Q' ;QE;ZZ.

Feb. 4, 1936. F. W, SAMPLE Er-AL 2,029,341

DIE MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING BUSHINGS Filed May 18, 1952 s sheets-sheet 2 v I|IllllllmllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllll lmmll||||||||||||||||||||||I||Illllll Feb 4, 1936- F. w. SAMPLE Er Al.

DIE MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING BUSHINGS Filed May 18, 1932` 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A r M f; ,j -I l 2 jf ,w Z Z 9H mi nl l 0 l X511 r Jef W w www Z 1|||I|||LH| 70 l Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES DIE `MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING BUSHINGS Fleck W. Sample and Robert D. Ross, Chicago,

Ill., assignors to American Flange & Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 18, 1932, Serial No. 612,118

8 Claims.

Our invention relates to die mechanism and it has to d o more particularly with mechanism of this character attached for securing flanged bushings to metallic sheets.

To facilitate explanation of our invention, we will refer to adaptation of the same to the walls of containers such as drums, barrels, and the like, particularly suited for the transportation and storage of gasoline, oils, etc. More particularly,

10 containers of this character are usually made from relatively thin sheet metal and they are provided with fill and/or discharge openings. In certain instances, these openings are formed by an outwardly-projected, tubular flange or neck l5 struck from the container wall material, and a bushing having a lateral flange at one end of its tubular body is inserted in the neck with its flange seated in a pocket at the base of the wall flange or neck with its other and free end rolled over and upon the free end of the wall neck to firmly secure the bushing in place. Also, the iiange and its receiving pocket are usually of a similar polygonal shape in outline to prevent rotation of the bushing in the wall neck. In this manner, the wall of the opening is reenforced and well adapted toreceive a plug for lclosing the opening.

Heretofore, it has been customary to apply bushings of the foregoing character by a plurality o'f independent die structures and operations wherein the bushing-receiving flange or neck and pocket are formed by one die mechanism at one operation, the bushing is then applied thereto, and is the'n finally secured in place by another die mechanism in another and independent operation, all of which involves considerable die expense, die handling, high production cost, and comparatively slow production rate.

The principal object of our invention is to provide for the mounting of the flanged bushing in a wall' of the container at a single-stroke operation and with a single die mechanism, whereby die expense and die handling are reduced to the minimum, the number of operators required is .45 reduced, production is increased and manufacturing cost is materially reduced.

A further object is to provide an improved die mechanism in which the bushing serves a die function and whereby, at a single-stroke, con- `50 tinuous operation, the container wall is formed around the bushing to provide the projecting wall flange or neck, the polygonally-shaped pocket receiving the bushing flange is formed, and the free end of the bushing is rolled over and upon 55 the free end of the wall ange or neck.

A more specific object is to provide die mechanism of the foregoing character which includes a plurality of cooperatively related means adapted for one continuous operation in which an opening is punched in the container wall, an integral wall neck or flange is formed and fitted around the circular bushing body, the container Wall at the base of such neck is depressed upon the top of and uniformly down around the edge of the polygonally-shaped bushing flange, and the end of the bushing opposite its flange is rolled over and upon the wall neck securing the bushing against axial and rotative displacement relative to the neck.

Other objects and advantages become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,-

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of die mechanismembodying our invention, only a portion of the die supporting and operating mechanism being shown, and the die parts being shown in open position ready for actuation to secure the bushing in the metallic wall;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the upper die unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower die unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the die structure of Fig. 1, showing the parts in position just following the punching of an opening in the metallic wall Fig. 5 is a view similar to lig. 4 except showing the die mechanism in an advanced stage of the operation;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the die mechanism in its final stage of operation with the bushing secured in place in the metallic wall; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the applied bushing and`its supporting wall.

The bushing adapted to be applied to the container wall, before its application, may take the form of a tubular body Il internally threaded as at I2 and provided at one end with a horizontal flange I3 which is polygonally-shaped in. outline. The other end Ila of the bushing Il is reduced in thickness outwardly from the threads I2 to facilitate the curling of the same outwardly over and inwardly upon the wall flange or neck to be formed. For purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the bushing is to'be mounted in the head I0 (Fig. l) of a drum, barrel, or other container. In the iinal bushing assembly (Fig. '7) the bushing flange I3 is seated in a similarly shaped pocket in the container wall I0 and its end I I* is curled over and upon a wall neck or flange 33 whereby the bushing is held against both rotary and axial displacement.

Also a gasket 30 is disposed between the wall flange 33 and the `bushing to seal the joint between the bushing and the wall I0. According to our invention, this bushing assembly isr accomplished in a continuous, single-stroke operation by die mechanism which will now be described. The die mechanism, in general, takes the form of a lower, stationary unit and an upper reciprocable unit. -These units may be supported in any desired aligned mannerand any desired form of mechanism (not shown) may be employed' for reciprocating the upper unit.

Specifically, with respect to the lower or sta,- tionary unit, it comprises a block I4 rmly secured by bolts I5 to a stationary base I6. block is provided with a shallow circular recess I4 in which is seated and centered a tubular bushing support I'I having a reduced extension II providing a horizontal seatI I 'Ib adapted to support 'the flange I3 of the bushing with its tubular body extending upwardly around the tubular extension Il. The block I4 and base I l5 are provided with openings I 8a and I8b, respectively, aligning with the bore of the support II for a purpose which will become obvious hereinafter. A bushing centering and guiding ring I9 is slidingly tted around the support I'I and it is normally and depressibly supported in spaced relation with respect to the block I4 by a plurality of springs 20. The springs 20 are normally under compression and tend to press the ring upwardly away from the block I4, the extent of upward movement of the ring vbeing limited by a plurality of bolts 2| which threadedly engage the ring and slidably engage the block I4 (Fig. 1). The ring I9 provides, in conjunction with the adjacent surfaces of the bushing support I1, a pocket (Fig. l) which connes the bushing flange I3. The upper, inner peripheral edge of the ring I9, forming a wall of the bushing-supporting pocket, is polygonallyshaped similarly to the bushing so that bushing is held in predetermined centered position with respect to the bushing support and the remainderA of the die structure which will be described later. 'I'he lower part of the inner peripheral surface of the ring is, preferably, circular corresponding to the shape of the support I'I over which it slides. The upper die unit comprises a block 22 having a reduced stem portion 22a adaptedl to be secured in any desired manner to the portion 23 of the die reciprocating structure (not shown). The block 22 is provided with a shallow, circularand concentric recess 22b in whichl is seated and centered the ring-shaped base 24 of a curling anvil 24. The outer peripheral edge of the anvil base 24a is extended, as at 24h, providing a rim extension having a curling groove 24c in its face. This curling groove curves inwardly from the inner peripheral edge of the rim extension 24b andthen curves outwardly on a comparatively less radius to the face of the extension adjacent its outer periphery, andboth edges of the groove lie in substantially the same plane in the face of the extension. With this arrangement,l the shallower portion'of the groove which first engages the upper edge IIa of the bushing ini--` tially turns the same outwardly (Fig. 5) and the curvature of the groove further causes the outturned bushing edge to curl outwardly, downwardly and inwardly as shown in Fig. 6. The curling groove is of sufcient depth and its outer This.

.slightly inward by an annular ange 2lb.

curling surface projects downwardly a suicient distance to uniformly control the size and shape of the curl at the end I la of the bushing insuring a bead 34 of uniform diameter and curvature over the end of the wall neck or iiange 33. This feature is of importance in structures Aof this character wherein a predetermined size seal cap,

such as disclosed in the copending applicaton of John W. Shera, Serial No. 669,093, led May 4, 1932, is mounted over the bead 34 for sealing the closure in the manner disclosed in said Shera application.

The curling anvil 24 is secured in place by a punch member 25 which has a punch head 258L seated upon the anvil base 24a with a reduced stem portion 25b extending partly therethrough. The punch member, and in turn the anvil 24, are firmly secured in place by a bolt 26 which has its head 26a countersunk in the punch face of the punch member and its stern extending freely through the punch member and threadedly engaging the block 22.' The punch member 25 is of a diameter adapted to pass snugly within the punch extension I'Ia of the lower unit and these parts are properly related to punch an opening in the metalvwall ICI (Fig. 4). It will be noted that the curling: groove 24c is located to one lside of the punch member and considerably inward from the punch face thereof,'so that the bushing will not be. engaged by the curling groove until the predetermined timeafter the openingY has been punched in the wall Il). This arrangement accommodates the forming of the container wall down over the bushing' before rolling of the bushing edge takes place.

We accomplish the forming of the wall down around the bushing as follows: A ring member 21 surrounds and is slidingly centered upon the curling anvil 24. The lower face of this ring member is provided with an enlarged shallow bore 21a the upper wall of which is extended This bore is shaped in plan outline similarly to the bushing ilange and closely approximates the dimensions of such flange so that when the upper die unit is reciprocated to its lowermost position it will contact the container wall and form the same down upon and over the edge of the bushing flange and to the shape thereof (Fig. 6). It is desirable that this forming action take place to 'with its lower forming edges spaced considerably ahead of the curling groove 24c as follows:

A plurality of relatively heavy springs'28 are mounted between the block 22 and the ringv 2'I, normally, and yieldingly holding the latter away from the block. The normal distance of separation of these parts,and consequently the normal spacement between the lower forming edges of the ring 2'I and the curling groove,'isdetermined by a plurality of bolts 29 which have their heads 29a slidably mounted in enlarged sockets 22c of the block 22 with theirstem passing slidably through the block and threadedly engaging the ring. With this arrangement, the ring 27 may be depressed toward the block 22, but cannot be separated a greater extent from the block, the springs 28 holding these parts in their 'predetermined, normal separated relation.

In the operation of the foregoing structure, the bushing (Fig. 1) to be applied is seated in the ilange receiving pocket of the lower die unit, the gasket 30 of any suitable material being in place @,OaQe-l vupon the upper surface of the bushing iiange i3.

The hat container wall (drum head or the like) i is then inserted between the upper and lower die units where it is supported, preferably, upon the lower unit punch extension ile. The upper die unit is then moved downwardly and the punch members cut a disc of metal 3i (Fig. 6) from the wall I0 providing an opening 32 therein as clearly shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the lower inside edges of the forming surfaces of the ring 21 of the upper unit are of greater diameter than the bushing H and engage the wall Iii outwardly beyond the bushing slightly in advance of the punching action just mentioned. As the uninterrupted downward movement of the upper die unit is continued, the metal of the wall i0, at a point outwardly beyond the bushing wall, is pressed downwardly drawing and expanding the metal adjacent the wall opening 32 down over the upper portion of the bushing which serves in eiiect as a die element for this action (Fig. At the beginning of downward movement of the upper unit, the ring member is in its normal spaced position with respect to the block 22, but as this movement continues, the springs 28 are gradually compressed until the ring 2l nally seats against the block 22, as may be the case in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5. As this action takes place the curling groove 2li@ appreaches closer and closer to the forming face of the ring 27 so that by the time the upper unit has been moved to the position of Fig. 5 the curling grcove has engaged the upper edge of the bushing and initially curled the same.

Continued downward movement of the upper die unit from the position of Fig. 5 results in depression of the ring member i9 of the lower unit and the completion of the forming of the wall neck portion 33 and the metal down upon and around the edge of the bushing iiange as shown in Fig. 6. Also, as this action is taking place, the curling groove 2lic being in engagement with the upper edge of the bushing, the curling or" the bushing edge is continued and the bushing is finally curled over and inwardly upon the wall neck or flange 33 to firmly secure the bushing upon the neck 33 and against axial displacement. Upon completion of the final step shown in Fig. 6, the upper die unit is elevated and the wall iii is removed with the bushing assembly such as illustrated in Fig. 7. It will be noted that during the final movement of the die, the Vgasket 39 is compressed, insuring a fluid-tight joint between the bushing and the wall il).

rom the foregoing the advantages of. our invention above first stated will be obvious. rThe flanged bushing is applied to the container wall at a single-stroke and continuous operation. The container, in carrying out this operation, need be handled only once and the chance of error entering into the application of the bushing,

which may arise in plural operation, is eliminated. The time required to mount the bushing in the wall is greatly reduced, thereby increasing production and reducing manufacturing costs. The die mechanism for accomplishing these features is quite simple and inexpensive but, at the same time, is highly efficient for the purpose stated. Accuracy of fit as between the bushing and the wall is insured by using, in effect the bushing as a die member and causing the wall surface to conform directly thereto. Further, our invention may be employed directly in connection with the manufacture of the containers, in that die mechanism embodying the same may be associated with the container forming mechanism whereby the bushing may be applied to a wall of the container' immediately upon forming of the same without intermediate handling of the container wall or thc die mechanism.

While we have shown only one foirn of structure embodying our invention, it is to be understood that other changes in details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention as defined by the claims which follow.

We claim:

l. A unitary, single-stroke die structure for applying hanged bushings to a metallic wall which comprises a member having'a tubular punch eX- tension adapted to support a flanged bushing having a circular' body surrounding said extension, a depress ble bushing-positioning member surrounding said supporting member, a reciprocable punch member axially aligned with said punch extension, a depressible member surrounding said punch member and having a die surface corresponding to the shape of the bushing iiange, and a curing anvil between said deprcssible member and said punch member spaced inwardly from the outer ends of the depressible member and punch member for-curling the end of. said bushing opposite its ilange, whereby, at a single stroke a metallic wall interposed between said punch extension and punch member is punched, formed around the body of said bushing and upon the flange of the latter and the end of the bushing is curled upon the wall formed therearound,

2. In single-stroke die structure for applying a flanged bushing to a metalic sheet, a stationary unit comprising a bushing support having a punch extension, a deprcssible ring surrounding said support and forming with the latter a flange receiving and centering pocket, and a movable unit comprising a punch nier. oer adapted to cooperate with said punch extension, a curling anvil' surroundine said punch member and having a curling edge located axially inward from the face of said punch member, and a depressible forming ring surrounding said curling anvil with its forming edges normally disposed axially outwardly from said curling edge, whereby as said units are moved toward each other with the metallic sheet therebetween, said wall is formed over and upon the bushing and is secured thereto.

3. Die mechanism for applying a flanged bushing to a metallic sheet in a continuous and singlestroke operation which comprises a tubular support for the bushing, a depressible ring surrounding said suppcrt and providing therewith a pocket in which the bushing nange is normally conned, a punch element associated with said support, a punch membeiyadapted to cooperate with said punch element to punch an opening in the sheet a curling anvil adapted to engage the edge of the bushing opposite its flange, and a forming ring surrounding said anvil and depressible relative thereto.

ll. A single operation die mechanism for applying iianged bushings to metallic sheets which comprises a stationary bushing support, a depressible bushing-positioning member, a stationary punch element, a punch member movable relative to said punch clement, a curling member movable with said punch member and having a curling groove therein adapted to engage an edge of the bushing, and a forming member movable bodily with said punch member and movable relative thereto as the sheet is engaged, said forming member being adapted to displace said bushing-positioning member and form a portion of the sheet over the flanged portion of the bushing.

5. A single operation die mechanism for applying fianged bushings to metallic sheets which comprises means including a displaceable flangepositioning member for supporting the bushing, means for punching an opening in the sheet, means movable toward said bushing-supporting means for shaping the sheet around the opening therein down around the bushing and for displacing said displaceable member to form the sheet upon and down over the edge of the bushing ange, and means operable relatively to said shaping means for engaging the edge of the bushing opposite its ange and curling the bushiing edge upon the metal therearound.

6. In unitary die mechanism adapted at a single stroke to apply flanged bushings to metallic sheets; a stationary unit and another unit reciprocable relative thereto; said stationary unit comprising a bushing support member, a depressible ring associated with said support member and forming therewith a pocket adapted to receive the bushing flange, and a punch element associated with said support member; and said reciprocable unit comprising a punch member adapted to cooperate with said punch element to punch an opening in the metallic sheet, a curling anvil movable with said punch member and located to engage the edge of the bushing opposite its ange after said punch member has moved past its punching position, and a forming member movable with and relative to said anvil for depressing the metallic sheet ahead of said anvil and forming the metallic sheet down upon and over the edge of the bushing flange, said forming member engaging and depressing saidv ring of the stationary unit to expose the edge of the bushing flange, whereby said bushing is applied to and secured to the metallic sheet in one continuous operation without manual intervention.

7. In unitary single-stroke die structure for applying a flanged bushing to a metallic sheet, means for supporting the bushing including a part movable relative to the bushing to expose an edge of its fiange, means for punching an opening in the sheet concentric vwith the bushing and of lesser diameter than the bushing, means for depressing the metal of the sheet adjacent the punched opening to expand such metal down over the bushing and upon and over the edge of its flange said latter means moving said movable part to uncover said bushing flange edge, and means engaging and curling the edge of the bushing opposite its flange over and upon the portion of the sheet expanded over the bushing, said last-mentioned means including an annular curling groove so constructed and arranged that it engages said bushing edge after said punch means has moved past its punching position.

8. In a unitary single-stroke die structure for -1 applying a flanged bushing to a metallic sheet in a continuous operation, a stationary member upon which the bushing flange is adapted to seat, a depressible member adapted to engage the bushing flange and prevent both lateral and rotary clisplacement of the bushing, means adapted to move inside the bushing body for punching an opening in the metal sheet, means movable downwardly toward the bushing flange and outside the body of the bushing for depressing. the metal sheet toward the bushing flange and for drawing the metal between such means and the formed opening down over the bushing body to dorm a neck around the bushing, and means engaging the end of the bushing opposite its flange during'the operation of said depressing means to roll the edge of the bushing over and upon the adjacent end of the formed neck, said downwardly-movable means being constructed and arranged to displace said depressible member and form the metal sheet down over the bushing flange.

FLECK W. SANIPLE. ROBERT D. ROSS. 

